KENNESAW, GA—March 29, 2012—For the fourth year in a row, Heidelberg USA hosted the annual Georgia SkillsUSA Training Day and competition in Advertising Design and Graphic Communications on March 15-16, 2012, at its Technology Center. The Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) partnered with Heidelberg USA to sponsor the event.

“Of the many events for which Heidelberg donates the use of its North American Print and Packaging Technology Center, the annual Georgia SkillsUSA competition is among the most important and rewarding,” said Susan Nofi, senior vice president, Human Resources and head of Heidelberg USA’s Print Media Academy. “It’s wonderful to have this opportunity to inspire the next generation of graphic communications professionals.

“Given our long history of leadership in industry education, Heidelberg is uniquely well-equipped to host the event, and we are especially proud to make the resources of our Technology Center available to these talented young students as they pursue their future in our industry.”

The national SkillsUSA Championship competition is held each summer in Kansas City, Mo., followed by the WorldSkills International competition, held each fall in different locations around the globe. Skills USA is the national organization for students in trade, industrial, technical and health occupation education. It conducts the annual SkillsUSA Championships to recognize the achievements of vocational students and encourage them to excel.

A grant from the PIAG Educational Foundation will enable first place contestants and their advisors to travel to Kansas City in June to compete in the national SkillsUSA competition. In addition, Heidelberg USA awards scholarships to the national SkillsUSA winners and donates the use of six Printmaster QM 46 presses during the national competition. The school of the first place secondary and postsecondary winners also receives a one-year lease for a Printmaster QM 46 press.

We’ll Be Back
All students competed in a job interview and written skills assessment. Advertising design competitors had three hours to compose a logo and advertisement. The graphic communications competitors were required to demonstrate competency in prepress work, offset press operation, and finishing techniques.